Quantcast
  We apologize for any slow response. This will be fixed before October 31st Portal logo
Login/Register
Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
/gemstones/king-gems-decorative-stones/page_179 - 2
 

Magnes, Loadstone

Magnes, Loadstone Page of 384 Magnes, Loadstone Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
170                 NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
more of a metallic, steely lustre) the more powerful the Magnet.
It is a singular omission on the part of Theophrastus that he should make no mention of this mineral, though described by his master Aristotle accurately enough ; his Magnetis would appear to be some Talcose rock from his notice (41): "Some stones admit of being sawn, others of being carved, or turned in the lathe like the stone Magnetis, which holds a high rank for its beauty, and is by many much admired on account of its resemblance to silver, though it really has no affinity to that metal."
The singular nature of the Loadstone excited the wonder of the ancient naturalists. Pliny exclaims, " What is more inert than the rigidity of a stone ? Yet lo ! Nature hath given it feeling and hands. What more contumacious than the hardness of Iron ? She hath bestowed upon it both feet and complaisance : it is attracted by the Loadstone ; and that metal, the subduer of all things, runs to meet something or other that is bodyless (inane), and when it comes near leaps towards it, is held by it, and clasps it in its embraces. Hence is it termed Sideritis ; and by others, for the same reason, Heraclios, or the stone of Hercules." Claudian has an elegant poem (translated at the end of this article) upon a shrine, containing a statue of Venus made of Loadstone, and another of Mars in iron. When the festival of their marriage was celebrated these statues were brought near, and by mutual attraction appeared to fly into each other's arms. There can be no doubt the poet is describing what he had himself witnessed.
Dinochares (or Timochares) the architect had, according to Pliny (xxxiv. 42), commenced vaulting over the temple of Arsinoe, at Alexandria, with blocks of Loadstone, with the idea that her statue, to be made of iron, would thus remain suspended in mid-air. This tradition was in all
Magnes, Loadstone Page of 384 Magnes, Loadstone
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page